Volt soared through the ponyville skies on his arch-wing. Following the cloud hoop course, Rainbow had set up. The urge to go faster crept into his mind but he fought it with every fiber of his being.

"Careless speed leads to mistakes." How many times had Frost tried to beat that lesson into him? All it took was an actual goal to make it finally sink in. A ninety-degree turn straight up was coming fast. He turned his back into the turn slowing down to aim his Itzel's blink ability. He blinked through three hoops straight above him to save some time from the deceleration. Right into the final straight away. He fired his booster giving it all he had. Timing the boosts fuel so he wouldn't break the cloud layer at the end of it. The end came up faster then he planned, and he threw the jets into reverse holding out his hands even if he knew they wouldn't stop him from going right through the cloud. He came to a stop just as his hands touched the water vapors.

Rainbow stopped the clock and flew over to give him a high hoof. "Not bad sparky one-minute thirty." Volt groaned. At the new personal record still short of his goal. "Cheer up that's only thirty seconds from qualifying."

Volt hovered shaking his head with his hands on his hips. "Ya for the young flyers competitions." He lamented

Rainbow gave him a look. "Dude don't stress I barely qualify for the Wonderbolts." She tried to encourage him but only gained palms up look of confusion.

"YOU can go Mach ten and make a ninety-degree turn! What kind of messed up standards are these ponies running?" Volt shouted distressed.

Rainbow ran a hoof through her mane giving it a spike. "Look as awesome as I am and we know I am." She boasted putting a hoof on her chest. "You're a space ninja that can fly in space and underwater. Also, those butt-wings can teleport and go invisible. I Rainbow Dash the transient authority on awesome declare all that pretty awesome." She pointed, and Volt nodded holding his fist out for a bump. Which Rainbow met happily, the sound of several Jet Streams came closer as Zephyr came flying through the whole course effortlessly to float near them.

"Hey, whatcha doing?" She asked. Happily, Volt looked at her then crossed his arms casually.

"Not much being awesome," Volt replied effortlessly, and Rainbow nodded in approval.

"Cool hey did you build this awesome cloud course its fun." She did a little excited dance.

"How fast you make it through?" Rainbow asked the new frame and Zephyr tilted her head in her version of a smile.

"A Minute." She declared happily. "Is that slow or fast?" She asked unsure looking at both of them. Volt deflated like a balloon hanging there. She guessed better than his time at least. She hopped in the air to float a little higher than him to pat him on the head. "Don't be sad you maybe speed but I'm air. Plus you're using an arch-wing we all know those controls are floaty not exactly fine tuned for racing ya know?" She held a finger out and floated down to the cloud under her standing on it to Rainbow's surprise.

"Um, bird frame?"

"Zephyr." She corrected

"Ya Zephyr how are you doing that? That's a cloud only Pegasus can cloud walk." Rainbow explained, and Zephyr lifted a claw to look at the fluffy white cloud.

"Ninety-percent of my frame is made out of Oxium a lighter than air metal. Plus gravity doesn't affect me like everyone else. So lounging on these super dense clouds is easy." She bends over to pet the cloud as Volt and Rainbow both went "Huh" When Zephyr stood straight up remembering something important. She flapped her hands almost lifting off again.

"Oh, oh have any of you seen Little Bird around?" She asked, and Rainbow cocked an eyebrow.

"Um, what little bird?" She looked towards Fluttershy's cottage plenty of little birds there.

But Zephyr shook her head focusing. "I mean Scootaloo have you seen her?" She corrected

Rainbow brightened up "Oh squirt! Ya haven't seen her today which is weird because usually, she watches me fly and do tricks. Try the clubhouse it's on Sweet apple acres that way." Rainbow pointed, and Zephyr hovered in the air charging her Jet Stream.

"Thanks! I'll check there after the library. I need to learn everything about Adopt-" The sonic-boom of her take off, cut off the rest of the word.

Rainbow looked at Volt "What did she say?"

Volt who knew Zephyr and got what she meant facepalmed. "Oh, this can only end badly."

***

Nekros sat in a darkened library lit by four candles that were placed strategically around him as he read a book whose cover was obscured by the dim light. Twilight and Spike had left him in charge of the library while they ran some errands. When a rapid knocking drug a putout sigh from the Tenno Shaman. He closed the book setting it down to reveal the tan Daring Do swinging over a pit of crocodiles and went to the door. He opened it a crack to see who it was, forgetting the public part of a public library. Zephyr shoved her whole head through the cracked door.

"HI NEKROS!" She greeted loudly. Nekros pondered how many door slams it would take to decapitate the irritating frame. Then realized he'd do more harm to the door than anything.

Nekros took a deep breath. "Hello, Zephyr how may I-"

"YA! Hi, do you have any book on adoption?" She cut him off looking around the dark library. "Wow it's really dark you should really turn on a light." Nekros threw open the door and grabbed the bird-frame by the collar and carried her inside without a word. "You seem mad should I come back later?" She asked genuinely as Nekros deposited her onto a chair. Then got in her face. His sickly green eye was blazing, and Zephyr eeped pulling all her limbs close.

"I'm going to ask this once Zephyr!" He growled pointing at her threatening. "Adopting what?"

Zephyr uncurled "Her names Scootaloo shes a little orange pegasus who lives in an orphanage, She's my Little Bird. I want to help her so bad it hurts. Nekros, please help me." She pleaded. Nekros sighed letting his hands fall to the armrest of the chair she sat in, he shook his head.

"Zephyr step out of your frame." He said hoping to help clear her head of this Momma Bird mentality.

"What like go change frames?" She asked confused, and Nekros realized something.

"Zephyr do you not know what we are?" He asked slowly lifting his head to look at her with concern.

"Warframes?" Nekros shook his head. "Tenno?, Ninja?" She got more flustered the more Nekros shook his head at each wrong answer. "Nekros I don't understand."

"Have you completed the Second Dream yet?" He asked standing up to pace a few steps. She leaned forward putting her hands neatly on her lap.

"Is that a quest?"

Nekros took another breath, but this one felt sad. "Yes it is, go back to your ship and do it, and the War Within." He told her sounding remorseful.

"What does this have to do with Little Bird?" She asked scared, and Nekros knelt down.

"I am helping you just in a different way R-Zephyr..." He corrected himself, and Zephyr looked down she called up her menu and fizzled out. Nekros stood and turned his back to the chair. His frame glowed, and Zander stepped out of his warframe to lean on the wall. The candlelight revealed his dark skin and his ash grey and black suit. His black mohawk shuffled as he moved. The green earrings swayed slightly matching the green eyes that burned in the dark. He looked up not to the ceiling but the stars and folded his hands.

"Dream not of what you are but of what you want to be Robin." He sent the pray out for her. When the lotus popped up with an alarm bell,

"Tenno something is coming towards Equus." Zander's eyes went wide, and he jumped back into his frame.

"I have called on you time and time again, to protect the balance of the Origin system."

Frost stood on a mountain peak as the snow blew past him he watched the Lotus's message. His red fist tightened summoning a swirl of ice. He turned to the sisters bundled up in coats behind him. "Rarity, Sweetie! Back to the ship now!" He ordered, and the sisters exchanged worried looks.

"To face old and new foes as they arise to threaten us."

Vauban sat in the Apple family barn checking and cleaning his Hek shotgun. As the Lotus's words were ringing in his mind, he pointed the four-barreled shotgun at a spec on the wall. He checked the sights and grunted before running a cloth over the barrels.

"This planet old yet young. One you've seen as a retreat from the horrors of the Origin system is in grave danger."

Dash watched as Volt armed himself. The excitement of the spaceship overshadowed by the grim atmosphere of danger. He took a moment to swing his Guanduo a thick blade on a pole around testing the weight and speed.

"I fear another dark stain on the Tenno has appeared."

Nyx knelt in front of the little bonsai tree Pinkie had gifted her. Her Kunai and dual kamas laid in front of her as Fluttershy worked to wrangle her animals frantically. She stopped to eye the Rubico sniper leaned near the Tenno.

"You all have encountered and proven yourselves against the shadow that Stalks the Tenno. Seen what the Tenno could turn into."

Cal stood in darkness only his blue lights could pierce. Thinking of the battle to come he clenched his fist in anger, to loosen it with a laugh. Pinkie trotted up and put a hoof on his thigh. He looked at her and nodded when she smiled at him.

"Those we have come to call allies, and even friends are in danger. This world their home is in danger."

Celestia watched the green burning comet enter the atmosphere and streak across her beautiful evening sky. The Lotus's words made her glare coldly at the infestation that dared to come to her kingdom. Oberon oversaw her as he leaned on a marble pillar.

"We are the only ones close enough, and the only ones able to stand against this foe."

Kaylee hugged Luna tightly allowing herself to be weak at this moment to steel herself for the battle to come. Valkyr knelt in the corner watching over both of them.

"I once asked you, Tenno, to dream do you remember?"

Zephyr's hands shook as she approached the Orokin chamber.

"To dream not of what you are."

The gold pods rose from the water like a gorgeous flower. Something twisted in the Frame's gut. Her vision filled with static, she held her head as the pods hissed to a stop. She cried out scared right before the pod opened and her frame fell limp.

"But of what you want to be Tenno. Be what Equestria needs this day Tenno. Let us dream again for peace."

Teshin looked at the farmhouse ignoring what came this way. He had one thing on his mind. He walked to the screen door and politely gave a knock. The Eldest Apple answered it with a smile.

"Evening Teshin was wondering when you'd bring your big hat back. You nearly missed supper." She wagged a hoof at him, and he smiled nodding his head. But his mission brought him back to the grim reality.

"Thank you, Ma'am, but I'm here to-" Granny cut him off with a raised hoof.

"I know why you're here, and it ain't fixing that hole." She gave him a knowing wink. "Been feeling something coming in my bones. Something wicked that's for darn sure." She looked towards the barn, and Teshin followed her gaze. "Vauban's been prepping for a fight all evening. Whatever's about to happen you're worried enough to take Bloom away from it." Granny nodded, "Come on and eat then take Bloom as far away as you can till it's safe. So long as you bring her back." Granny had to laugh, and Teshin tilted his head. "Hell even if you tried to keep her I have a feeling she'd float her way back eventually." Teshin couldn't help the smile from the Families hospitality. The image of Bloom kicking her feet in the void of space determined to make it home was an amusing one.

When Teshin turned back to the door to see Granny gone but the door propped open. The symbol of an open invitation whenever he needed it was not lost to him. He walked into the chorus of greetings.

***

Scootaloo sat on at a table in the park, bored. Bloom went home for supper, and Sweetie was still on her trip to wherever, and she hadn't seen Zephyr all day. Which was unusual for the Frame Scoots wouldn't admit it to anyone, but she liked the Bird frames attention. When someone sat down next to her, Scoots turned to see another warframe. From top to bottom she had orange claws on her feet. Grey and orange bodysuit and an orange mohawk on her slick helmet. To be honest, she looked like a giant chicken is what Scootaloo thought.

"Zephyr?" Scoots asked, and the frame looked at her.

"Sorry kid haven't seen her today which sucks," Ember responded then looked over the Pegasus filly. "Oh wait, orange fur, purple hair, tiny wings." Ember pointed out, and Scootaloo fluffed up defensively.

"Hey, at least I don't look like a giant chicken!"

Embers reaction was instant. She raised a fist, and you could almost see the vein pop out of her helmet. "What'd you say you little brat!" Fire spouted as she fumed.

Scoots got fired up to standing on the bench to get closer to the frame. "You have little chicken claws! A rooster crow on your head and at least I know what people mean when they say giant chicken breasts!" Scoots pointed at Ember's chest, and the Frame froze with her hands out like she was going to strangle the filly.

When the frame shuttered and started shaking violently, Scootaloo began to worry she'd gone too far. Ember put her head between her thighs. Made a squeak as she shook some more before throwing her head back in a fit of laughter. "Oh, my stars CHICKEN BREASTS!" She kicked her feet as she laughed. "That's freakin great kid!" She put an arm around Scootaloo and pulled her into a fake headlock to ruffle her hair. The Filly giggled happily at the sisterly behavior that reminded her of Rainbow Dash.

"No wonder Zephyr likes you kid. Names Ember me and Zephyr go way back." Ember explained, and Scoots looked at her with wide eyes

"Cool, how fair?" She asked, and Ember took a breath like she was ready to tell a long story when Zephyr landed a few feet in front of them. Ember stood up still carrying Scootaloo like a stuffed toy to wave at Zephyr.

"Hey, girl! Where you been, you keep leaving me on this dirtball." The enthusiasm drained out of Ember when she noticed something was wrong with the bird frame. Zephyr rubbed her arm looking down then she looked at Scootaloo.

"Hey, Ember can me and Scootaloo talk for a bit?" She asked, and Ember looked uncertain between the two but nodded setting Scoots back on the bench. "stick around please I just need to say something."

Scootaloo shuffled nervously looking between the two. "Whats wrong?"
Zephyr didn't answer as she took a seat next to her Little Bird. "Are you leaving?" Scootaloo asked sacred, and Zephyr instantly grabbed her for a hug.

"No, NO!." She took a breath "I had a plan to adopt you..." Zephyr winced at the gasp from Scootaloo it tour her up inside.

"Wait had?" Scootaloo asked sounding heartbroken, and Zephyr shook her head yes.

"I was told to learn more about myself first and..." Zephyr stood up, and her Frame glowed. As a light skinned girl with red hair stepped out of the warframe, she wore a dark purple operator suit, and she folded her hands as she looked to the side unable to meet Scootaloo's eyes.

"What I don't understand." Scootaloo started.

"This is what who I am. My real name is Robin, and I'd forgotten who I was after so long." Robin walked over and sat next to Scoots again. "Turns out I'm just a kid." Scootaloo moved, so she sat right against Robin and the Tenno burst into tears. "I can't adopt you... I'm so sorry Little Bird I wanted to help you so bad it hurts but I can't." Scootaloo wrapped her hooves around the skinny Tenno as she cried.

Another set of arms wrapped around Robin and she looked over to see another girl with a short green mohawk and a long braid down her back. She had freckles like Robin her operator suit was green and purple. She hugged Robin tightly.

"Ember?" Robin asked not seeing any other answers.

"Actually it's Amber, but yes It's me." The green and purple Tenno smiled with her eyes closed. Robin felt a soft smile grow on her face.

"Zeph- I mean Robin... Thank you for trying." Scootaloo shook her head "No thank you for helping me. Just promise me you'll stay around a bit longer and maybe come back when you can ok." Scootaloo smiled burying her own hurt over something that couldn't happen.

"Just because she can't adopt you. Doesn't mean we won't be there for you!" Amber said determinedly. "Your our Little Bird now!"

Amber's words registered on Robin's face "Our?" She asked looking into her equally pale friends face.

Amber grinned "Oh ya I almost forgot." She leaned over and pecked Robin on the cheek. "I'm happy you finally found yourself." Robin almost turned as red as her hair. Scootaloo tried to jump off the bench to escape the mushy stuff, but Robin and Amber grabbed her and hugged her on either side. Amber held up something in her hands and got a picture of her smiling, Scoots stuck between them and Robin still blushing. She would later label it as "Three birds make a family."

Author's Note

This was a big emotional one for me, Hope you enjoy tell me if you spot any mistakes.